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Anchor your home theater system with high-performance sound

Polk's Blackstone TL3 packs big-speaker punch in a compact center channel design. Built using the same tweeter design found in their flagship full-sized loudspeakers, as well as exclusive state-of-the-art technologies, the TL3 overcomes some of the usual limitations of compact speakers. You'll hear the kind of accuracy and detail you expect from a much larger center channel speaker, including a wide soundstage, crisp dialogue, and realistic special effects. It's the perfect choice when space in your living area is limited, but your love of great sound is not.

Crisp, dynamic sound thanks to high-tech drivers

A big part of the TL3's incredible sound is the 3/4" Ring Radiator tweeter. Found in Polk's flagship speakers, this sophisticated tweeter reproduces transparent, natural highs. The dual 3-1/4" aerated polypropylene woofers are lightweight, but also stiff and strong, allowing the cones to move more freely in the baffle. It means you can play your music and movies loud without hearing any distortion. Polk's Extended Linear Motion voice coil helps make the cone movement even more efficient to further cut down on distortion and extend the speaker's dynamic range. This increased efficiency is the key to the TL3's big speaker sound.

Immersive home theater performance

The "TL" refers to Polk's "Time Lens" technology, which aligns the drivers in such a way that high- and low-frequency sounds all reach your ears at the same time. This improves the speaker's imaging and soundstaging, so that you'll feel less like you're watching a movie and more like you're part of it. An "acoustic lens" in the speaker grille disperses sound waves in a way that makes your music and movie soundtracks sound larger and more open. The TL3 also features Polk's acclaimed PowerPort® technology to help reinforce bass output. Plus, its sturdy cabinet is reinforced with a steel plate to help fight resonances that can muddy the sound.

Easy system building

The TL3 has keyhole slots in the back for easy mounting to your wall straight from the box. You can create your own compact home theater system by adding anywhere from five to seven TL3 satellite speakers to this center channel. And don't forget a Polk subwoofer to complete your system with rumbling bass.

Your home theater's most important speaker

The center channel speaker is the workhorse in a home theater system. It has to reproduce clear dialogue and special effects that keep your eyes and ears glued to the movie action. A high-quality center speaker is a great investment for any surround sound setup. Try to choose one that's as closely matched as possible to your front right and left speakers, so that as sound moves across the front stage, it stays seamlessly realistic.

Driver Technology

Dynamic Balance Driver Technology: Polk Audio's patented Dynamic
Balance process allows Polk to design their drivers specifically for flatter
frequency response, revealing the sharpest details and a more lifelike
transparency, with absolutely no strain even at high volume. It's a bold, rich,
warm, and lifelike sound.

Time Lens Technology: The sophisticated laser alignment of the
"acoustic center" of the Blackstone TL tweeters with their accompanying drivers
results in far superior imaging. The acoustic centers of the tweeter and
mid-range woofer are aligned, creating a crisp accurate soundstage. The acoustic
centers of the tweeter and mid-bass driver are located in the same plane for
superior imaging, while the acoustic lens incorporated in the grille smoothes
the tweeter's frequency response.

3/4" Ring Radiator Tweeter: The Polk Audio Black Stone TL3
series center speaker features a 3/4" ring radiator tweeter that is normally
found only on high-end loudspeakers. The 3/4" ring radiator tweeter offers
incredible accuracy and detail, so you music sound likes the artist intended.

Enclosure Design

Curved Enclosure Design: The Polk Audio Black Stone TL3
center-channel
speaker employs non-parallel surfaces that not only lead to a stronger, more
rigid and acoustically inert enclosure, but they also result in less audible
coloration from internal surface resonances.

Steel Reinforced: Extra-rigid steel plates reinforce the
curved enclosures of the TL3 center-channel speaker, resulting in an
acoustically inert enclosure free from internal resonances and any audible
coloration, for more lifelike audio detail.

Integrated Acoustic Lens: An innovative acoustic lens incorporated
into the grille produces a high frequency response so smooth that it delivers a
balanced, realistic performance. An acoustic lens is molded into the back of the
speaker grille and helps create imaging frequency balance previously impossible
in small high-performance loudspeakers.

High-Gloss Finish: The Polk Audio TL3 center-channel loudspeaker features a
durable, deep automotive-strength high-gloss finish that matches today's most
stylish flat-panel TVs. The TL3 center-channel is available in a high-gloss black
finish.

Connections

5-Way Binding Posts: The Polk Audio Black Stone TL3
center-channel is equipped with
one pair of 5-way binding posts to ensure a secure connection to many types of
speaker cables and connectors. The binding post terminals will accept banana
plugs (single or dual), pin-connectors, spade-connectors, and bare wire (18-12 AGW).

Mounting Options

Rubber Feet: The Polk Audio TL3 center-channel features
three integrated rubber feet
so you can sit the speaker on a stand or shelf securely.

Wall Mountable: The TL3 center-channel speaker features dual
single keyhole slots on the back of the cabinet for wall-mounting the speaker
without any additional wall-mount bracket (mounting screws not supplied). There
is also a 1/4"-20 threaded insert on the back of the loudspeaker for mounting
the speaker to the wall using an optional articulating bracket (sold
separately).

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find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research
team. They verify what’s in the box, check the owner's manual, and record
dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies
to help people make informed choices.

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Review Guidelines for more information. We reserve the right (but are not
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Good Center Speaker

After my floor standing tv died I bought a flat screen to hang over the fireplace. Its nice to have the tv up there but there was not enough room for my center speaker. I tried to use the surround without the center speaker, but I was not happy with the way it sounded. I missed a lot of the dialogue and voices. Did some research and decided to try the Polk TL3. I like it, it sounds real good. Now I can hear all of the voices and dialogue . And it has a low enough profile to fit under my new tv quite well. And the looks and style of it blend in quite well with my decor. Im very happy with this speaker.

size does matter

I was updating my system and as a cost saving measure i wanted to retain my Klipsch SF-2 speakers. A matching Klipsch center was too large for my application so my adviser recommended the TL 3. I could not be more pleased with the unit as the pass between them is solid and the TL3 is efficient enough to work well with the Klipsch at a low volume.

Speaker that blows--in a good way

Ok, I wasn't too sure about this speaker. My media room is 20x30 with a 25 ft ceiling . I just didn't think this would work. Was I ever wrong. This speaker blows and that's good!! The sound that comes out is crisp clear and easily fills my room. Way to go Polk.

Best Home Theater Upgrade

This thing is incredible. So much of your sound comes from your center channel don't go cheap here. This speaker was the size I needed. Looks great (got the wife's approval) and sounds even better! I haven't heard the TL1 or TL2 but I would easily spend the extra money and get this one again. It just sounds incredible.

Polk Audio Blackstone TL3

I replaced a much larger sized center channel speaker with this unit and the sound is crisper/clearer and better overall. I bought it to match a set of L/R TL3's with a sub. Very happy with this center speaker.

Great speaker for it's size

I purchased this as a center channel to go with 4 MC80 in ceiling speakers. I was told buy some that this would not sound good and that I should go with some of the bigger Polk center channel speakers but I wanted to stay with a more streamlined unit for my family room. I have no regrets buying this unit and feel that the sound is very good for it's size. I use my system for music, movies and TV and feel it is very clear, giving great dialogue. On some movies I have to turn the volume up but do not think it is a TL3 issue but believe it is the way some movies are produced. I highly recommend this unit.

Pros:size and sound from a small unit

Cons:I do not like the faceplate over the woofers/tweeter, it is a felt material and wish it was more of a nicer grill.

Great things come in small packages!

i got this speaker to upgrade from an older large box center speaker that blocked my tv front panel so i couldn't use the remote to operate the tv.i have always been a big fan of polk and already having the rear surround TL3's this was a no brainer.the size and shape is awesome.as far as the sound it is a polk baby! it sounds great.enough said just buy it!

Pros:low profile size and shape and its high gloss black finish,sound of course

lt3 hits the sweet spot

The Polk tl 3 center channel works very well in my larger tv room. I hesitated to purchase this speaker because it may have not been big enough for my room. after listening to it for about a month I have zero buyers remorse. I'm very happy with it.

Pros:not an overwhelming bohemian in size most other center channels are.

great product

I used this in my home with other TL3 front speakers, and my parents liked the clarity of voices so much from the center, that they added the TL3 center channel along with the MC80 ceiling speakers to their new home.

Polk Audio Blackstone TL3 center channel speaker

I am very happy my with purchase of the Polk Audio TL3 center channel speaker. Great sound with small foot print that I needed. Checked out a lot of reviews before purchasing. Will continue building my 7.1 system with Polk Audio speakers. Crutchfield service and shipping were excellent.

Nice Upgrade

I have a real tight corner in which I set up a home theater in a box. I picked a budget Yamaha package that had a set of small speakers and was affordable. The sound out of the center channel speaker was weak, making the overall sound rather shallow. With the addition of the Polk T3 the center filled out very nicely. It has good depth and full range of tone. I am very pleased.

Great Sound, Perfect Fit

This speaker fit exactly what I needed to fill the spot in my living room. I have plenty of big, deep sound from my other speakers, but I needed a small center channel to complete the system. Physically and performance-wise, this does just what I needed. And it looks great too!

Great clarity

I have a complete Polk speaker system, but had two problems with the Polk CSR center speaker. One, it was too tall to sit in front of the TV so I had to put it in the entertainment system, and even with the doors to the entertainment system open, the vocals sounded somewhat muffled. Since I'm a little hard of hearing, the clarity from the CSR was sometimes hard to understand.

The TL3 has solved both problems. Its size is small enough to fit just below the TV and the clarity is so much better than my old Polk speaker.

Very Good but...

This center channel is very good and for most people it would be excellent. I have a hearing issue (two hearing aids) and in some circumstances the dialog is not as clear as I need it to be. Whether this is a speaker fault or a fault of my hearing instrument, I can't be sure. I am however considering ordering an upgrade to the center channel.

Pros:It's excellent for music and most TV programming but lacks some clarity in recorded (DVD or DVR) dialog.

Polk Audio Blackstone TL3

I bought this center speaker to replace a very old Infinity speaker. The sound is great and works well with my Yamaha RX-A720 receiver. I wanted something small but with good sound. This speaker fit the bill.

Good yet small center channel speaker

Pros:Makes dialogue in most shows and movies much clearer. It's nice and small, perfect for my cheap home theater stand. Decent price as well. Extremely fast shipping, only took 5 days to get from VA to Okinawa!! Too bad all of the mail going from the U.S. to APO addresses, via USPS, isn't that fast!

Cons:I didn't have the easiest time running my 10 gauge speaker wire through the connectors on back, so I may remove the wire, put on banana plugs, and re-install.

Awesome Speaker

I initially bought the TL1 and it was a good speaker but was a little too small for the room I needed it in. The TL3 fills my larger room with great sound and is definitely worth the extra dough. It is an awesome speaker; glad I upgraded.

Great sound

I bought the TL3 center speaker because the RM7 center that came with my surround sound system sounded a little tinny compared to even my flat panel speakers. The TL3 has a more full bodied sound and a much better resonance than the RM7. I made some minor adjustments to the other speakers to accomodate the new center but am very pleased with it. My old system was a pair of 30 year old Bose 901s and it was time to move on to a more room pleasing sound even though I love the 901s.

Pros:Better resonance and sparation of sound.
Not too big and can go in front of flat panel TV
Good price for what you get

Cons:The only con would be that the sound from the system as a whole is great but smaller speakers can't produce the sound of bookshelf speakers and higher end speakers--know that going in and you will enjoy your purchase.

A glorified and overpriced TL2

Usually I have a lot of respect for the audio equipment that bears the Polk nameplate, but this TL3 isn't the amazing little wonder that you might expect if you've read Polk's marketing prose. Sure, the TL3 has some nice sound and the highs are definitely there. But it comes up woefully short on genuine bass. For $60 more than a TL2, you get bass response that's only 10 Hz lower (115 Hz). That's right, 10 Hz lower. Certainly NOT the ground-breaking sound reproducer that Polk markets it as. Hardly the marvel of our century, ring tweeter or not. In fact, I think that if you blindfolded people and did an A-B comparison between a TL2 and a TL3, I think most folks would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. One of the best selling points about this speaker is actually its relatively short enclosure profile which allows it to be placed in front of many flat screen TV's wiithout blocking the picture. Still, for respectable bass response, there are better center channel speaker choices out there for the same price that Polk expects you to pay for the TL3. Keep your money, or buy the TL2. At the price, it's a better value for the money.

Pros:Relatively short profile allows placement in front of many flat screen TV's without blocking the picture.
Fit, finish, and appearance are all good.

Cons:Comes up short on real bass.
Hard to justify paying $60 more than

Polk Audio BlackstoneT TL3

Decided it was time to replace my mammoth 1987 Kenwood speakers (which still work great) with these compact speakers. Was worried about the plastic housing, but.... they sound great. The sound quality is amazing.

TL3 center channel

I was a little hesitant due to the lack of reviews, but after months of deliberation and research I finally decided to go with three TL3 center channels as my front configuration (fr, fl & center) in my home theater set up. It has been a few months since my purchase and install and I am completely satisfied with the look and performance of my TL3 center channel speakers. Aesthetically they fit nicely on the wall with my Panasonic 50 inch plasma, acoustically the blend very well with my dsw pro 500 sub-woofer. Together in my 13 x 18 family room they produce a quality of sound (music or movies) that outsizes their physical footprint. I am happy and proud of my Blackstone TL3 speakers.

Polk TL3 Speakers

Written By ROD, Pinehurst, NC on Thursday, June 30, 2011

These speakers are AWESOME - - they provide a clear crisp sound. They outperform speakers in a much higher price range. I thank CRUTCHFIELD for the recommendation and I would gladly recommend these to anyone !!!

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You'll need wire to connect your center channel speaker to your amp or receiver.Cut your speaker wire to the exact length you need with a spool of bulk speaker wire. No wire is included with this speaker.

Add connectors to your bulk speaker wire for a neater, easier, and more reliable installation.